Spray nozzle



R. D. EVANS SPRAY NOZZLE Oct. 24, 1933.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1931 IN ENTOR Oct. 24, 1933. R. D. EVANS1,931,689

SPRAY NOZZLE Filed Feb. 4, 1931 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR- Oct. 24,1933. R. D. EVANS SPRAY NOZZLE Filed Feb. 4, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 11VVENTOR R. D. EVANS SPRAY NOZZLE Oct. 24, 1933.

Filed Feb. 4, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 24, 1933UNITED STATES SPRAY NOZZLE Robley D. Evans, Alhambra, Calif., assignorto O. F. Braun 8; 00., Inc., Alhambra, Calif.

Application February 4,

11 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid distribution and particularly pertainsto a spray nozzle.

In the operation of numerous mechanical structures and industrial plantsit. is necessary to distribute and spray a liquid over an area of givenconfiguration and in a manner to insure that the area is uniformlywetted, or that the liquid will be uniformly aerated as it falls ontothe specified area, such a structure being particularly adapted for useas a water distributing means in cooling towers of the atmospheric type.

It is the principal object of the present invention, therefore, toprovide a spray nozzle through which a large volume of liquid may passin uniformly unobstructed flow and by which nozzle the column of liquidmay be broken up into a multiplicity of relatively small jets which aredispersed from the eduction end of the nozzle along varying angularpaths of travel radially of the nozzle and along varying predeterminedtrajectories, all of which is brought about with the uniformdistribution of water over the entire predetermined area and with arelatively low pressure loss due to friction.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a verticallydisposed nozzle having a central passageway therethrough of relativelylarge area and of substantially uniform sectional area throughout itslength, said passageway terminating in an eduction mouth from which acolumn of liquid may be projected at a predetermined hydrostaticpressure and in the path of which column is disposed a spray plate bywhich dispersion of the column is effected and a multiplicity ofdivergent jets of liquid created and directed along paths of travel todelineate an area of predetermined configuration and to uniformly wetthis area.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in plan show ing the application of thepresent invention to a. section of the cooling deck of an atmosphericwater cooling tower.

Fig. 2 is. a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the structuredisclosed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in perspective showing one form of the nozzlewith which the present invention is particularly concerned.

Fig. 4 is a view in central vertical section through the nozzle as seenon the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in plan showing one form of the present invention inwhich it is particularly adapted for small quantities of liquids andwhich 1931. Serial No. 513,326

structure is characterized by the extension of the teeth gullets down tothe disc.

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation showing the spray plate of Fig. 5with parts broken away to indicate sectional formation of the teeth.

Fig. 7 in a view in plan showing another form of the spray platestructure characterized by a relatively shallow uniform tooth gullet.

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation showing the plate of Fig. 7 withparts broken away to indicate the formation of the teeth in section.

Fig. 9 is a view in plan showing a spray disc for large quantities ofliquid and being characterized by the use of disperson members devoid ofteeth and whereby varying trajectories will be imparted to the liquidbeing thrown off therefrom.

Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation showing the structure of Fig. 9 withparts broken away to indicate the sectional formation of the dispersionplane.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing the use of aremovable deflector to direct the liquid against wind pressure.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view in vertical section showing the applicationof the removable deflectors to a spray plate.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 10 generally indicates asection of cooling deck of an atmospheric water cooling tower abovewhich a water distributing pipe 11 is disposed and from which lateralpipes 12 extend. The outer ends of said pipes terminate inelbows 13 towhich are connected downwardly extending vertical pipes 14 in the lowerends of which nozzle structures 15 are secured.

The present invention is particularly concerned with the nozzlestructures and enlarged views of one of the units is indicated in Figs.3 and 4 of the drawings. Referring to these figures it will be seen thata nozzle member 16 is provided, being of substantial cylindricalformation and of relatively large circular section. The upper end of thenozzle 16 is exteriorly threaded at 17 to receive a connection from thepipe 14. Cast integral with the nozzle and substantially midway thelength thereof are radial arms 18 supporting a central boss 19. Thisboss receives the upper end of a stem 20 which extends downwardly andcentrally of the nozzle and projects from the lower end thereof.Attention is directed to the fact that the circumscribing wall of thenozzle in the area occupied by the arms 18 and the boss 19 is enlarged,this enlargement being in proportion to the displacement area of thearms and the boss so that the column of liquid passing through thenozzle may maintain its substantial uniformity and will not beundesirably disturbed or agitated when it is discharged from theeduction end of the nozzle.

The terminating end of the stem 20 occurs a predetermined distance belowthe eduction opening 21 of the nozzle and supports a spray plate 22.This plate is here shown as being in the form of a circular discdisposed concentrically of the longitudinal axis of the nozzle and in aplane at right angles thereto.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that this disc will bedisposed directly in the path of travel of the column of liquidprojected from the nozzle and will act as a deflector to disperse theliquid radially of the axis of the column and thus cause it to tend tofall within the conflnes of a circle. It will be recognized that where aplurality of spray nozzles of common type and design is used to applyliquid to an area, rectangular or otherwise, that these nozzles willordinarily function to apply water to a series of circular areas andthat the liquid will not be universely distributed over the entiresurface to be wetted since coincident overlapping areas will occur alongthe edges of the circles and an unwetted hypercycloidal area between thecircular wetted areas, and it is the object of the present invention toprovide means whereby the column of liquid may be dispersed in a mannerto uniformly cover an area of predetermined size and configuration, andparticularly areas of rectangular shape.

This is primarily accomplished in the present case by the provision ofmarginal dispersion flanges 23 which extend upwardly from the sprayplate 22 and along quadrants of the plates. The dispersion flanges intheir more simple form as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 have a solid-body andan arcuate upper edge 24 over which the liquid is projected after itstrikes the plane obstructing face of the plate 22.

In this form of device as shown in Fig. 9 attention is directed to thefact that the inner face 25 against which the liquid initially impingesis of varying vertical angularity so that the jets of liquid dispersedover the lip 24 will be directed along a multiplicity of differentradial paths of travel and so that trajectories of the jets will varyfrom relatively high short-range jets passing over the crown of the lip24 to relatively low long-range jets passing directly from the plate 22and through the opening 26, occurring between adja cent ends of thedispersion flanges 23.

It will be evident that-there will be an area disposed beneath the sprayplate 22 and sheltered thereby in which there would not be any spray ofliquid. The configuration of this area would agree with theconfiguration of the entire area being sprayed and along the perimeterof which the jets of liquid projecting from over the edge of the discwould fall. In order to supply a uniform spray to this sheltered area, aplurality of openings 27 are formed through the disc and are disposedupon axial lines radial with the center of the quadrants subtended bythe dispersion flanges 23 disposed beneath the spray plate 22 and in thepath of travel of the relatively large jets of liquid flowing downwardlythrough the openings 27 is a subplate 28. This plate is substantiallyconical, having an outwardly flaring and curved face against which thecolumns of liquid from the openings 27 impinge and by which thesecolumns are diverted outwardly and simultaneously dispersed. In order toincrease the uniformity of dispersion of this liquid it may be desirableto provide a serrated dispersion flange 29 beneath the spray plate 23and preferably projecting downwardly from the under face thereof. Thesubplate 28 is secured to a threaded extension of the stem 20 as shownin Fig. 4.

As previously stated, the simplified form of the invention is shown inFigs. 9 and 10, for in this case the dispersion flanges 24 are smoothand are not serrated. This type of nozzle is particularly adapted foraccommodating large volumes of liquid.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the dispersionflanges 23 are indicated as being formed with a plurality of serrations30. These serrations gradually increase in depth from the center of theflange outwardly and downwardly toward the point of convergence of theflange with the upper face of the spray plate 22.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the serrations 30extend from the upper edge of the dispersion flanges 23 substantially tothe upper face of the disc 22. This particular type of spray disc isdesirable for use in cases where a relatively small volume flow ofliquid is used.

In the form of the invention generally indicated in Fig. 12 of thedrawings and the application of which is shown in Fig. 11, a deflectorshield 32 is provided for the purpose of projecting the jets of liquidinto the wind since it is evident that in cooling tower operation theair pressure on the windward side would tend to disturb the jets and toprevent them from forming and following the trajectories along whichthey had been calculated to travel, and which would be established andmaintained under normal air conditions by the discs. When disturbingwind conditions are prevalent it is possible to place the deflectorshields 32 upon the lee side of the nozzle thus diverting approximatelyone-half of the liquid from the lee side of the nozzle and into the windupon the windward side of the nozzle. The deflector flanges are arcuatein horizontal section and are I hyperbolic in vertical formation, thebase of the structure resting upon the upper face of the spray disc 22and the arcuate formation conforming to the dispersion flanges 23thereon. A suitable means may be provided for detachably positioning theshield upon the disc.

In the operation of the structure with which the present invention isconcerned, the nozzle is suitably connected with a delivery pipe 11 bythe pipe 12 and a large volume of liquid in unrestricted flow iscontinuously fed directly through the nozzle under a predeterminedhydrostatic head. Due to the fact that the mouth of the nozzle is spacedfrom the upper plane face of the spray disc 22 a vertical column ofliquid will be projected downwardly from tlre mouth of the nozzle andcaused to strike the obstructing spray disc with a predetermined force.Attention is directed to the fact that the openings 27 which are formedthrough the spray disc fall within the area represented by thecircumference of the projected column of liquid so that the liquid whichpasses through the openings 27 will continue substantially under itsoriginal hydrostatic head and will impinge against the deflecting facesof the subplate 28 with substantially the same force as the remainder ofthe column of liquid sirikes the obstructing plane face of the sprayplate 22. The liquid diverted from its linear path of travel by thespray plate 22 will tend to move laterally of the plate, some portion ofit splashing upwardly and falling off the sides of the plate in a randomfashion, the larger proportion of liquid moving radially of the plate toencounter the dispersion flanges 23.

In the form of invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10 where the dispersionflanges are arcuatev in section, it will be evident that the liquidpassing off from the spray plate will form substantially into fourfan-shaped sheets of liquid which will tend to separate and break into aspray at the point where the force of the hydrostatic head is spent.This will be along a substantially straight line, the opposite ends ofwhich will be established by the jets of liquid which have anopportunity to flow directly from the spray plate 22 and insubstantially the plane thereof without deflection as they flow throughthe throats 26, occurring between coniiguous ends of dispersion flanges.

The plane determined by the various trajectories may be inclined so thatthe pitch of the trajectories may be varied to agree with the shape ofthe surface area to be wetted.

It will, of course, be evident that a large volume of liquid will fallshort of the outer limit as defined by the jets which pass upwardlyover'the lip of the dispersion flanges. This will insure that theconfined area will be substantially uniformly sprinkled with theexception of the central sheltered area occurring beneath the sprayplate 22 and a distance'therebeyond. This area will be supplied with auniform spray of liquid by the liquid which passes downwardly throughthe openings 27 and strikes the subplate 28. Attention is directed tothe fact that there are as many openings 27 as there are dispersionflanges 23 and that due to this symmetrical subdivision of the liquid,the dispersion of the liquid from off the subplate will supplement thespray of liquid from off the sprinkler plate 22 to cause the entirepredetermined rectilinear area to be uniformly sprinkled.

Under certain circumstances, such for example, as when apparatus isoperated under a relatively small volume flow, or under a relativelysmall hydrostatic head it may be desirable to more thoroughly break upthe sheet of liquid which would normally project upwardly and over thelip of the dispersion plate 22, shown in Figs. 9 and 10. This is done byforming a plurality of serrations along the margin of the dispersionflanges 23 so that the liquid may be impelled along a plurality ofvarying trajectories. The depth of the serrations may be varied, ascalculations may determine, making it possible to insure that a liquidmay be uniformly sprinkled over areas varying from rectangular tohypercycloidal.

It will thus be seen that the structure here disclosed is simple inconstruction and operation and that by proper design an area of anyrequired shape may be uniformly sprinkled with the spray nozzleembodying the present invention.

While I have shown the invention as now known to me, it will beunderstood that various changes may be made in the combination,construction, and arrangement of parts by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A nozzle for uniformly spraying non-circular.

' plane surface at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the nozzleand against which a column of liquid from the nozzle may project, and aplurality of arcuate flanges disposed in spaced relation to each otheralong the circumferential edge of said disc, and projecting at rightangles to the aforementioned plane face of the disc, said arcuateflanges progressing in height from their opposite ends to their medianline, the ends of contiguous flanges being spaced from each other andinterrupted by the plane face of the disc whereby a liquid projectedfrom the nozzle and striking the disc will be divided into portionshaving relatively long flat trajectories and intermediate portions, thetrajectories of which progressively shorten horizontally toward themedian.

lines of the arcuate flanges.

2. A nozzle for uniformly spraying non-circular areas which comprises avertically disposed tubular nozzle having an outlet at its lower end, acircular disc disposed beneath said nozzle with its plane surface atright angles to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle and against which acolumn of liquid from the nozzle may project, and a plurality of arcuateflanges disposed in spaced relation to each other along thecircumferential edge of said disc, and projecting at right angles to theaforementioned plane face of the disc, said atcuate flanges progressingin height from their opposite ends to their median line, the ends ofcontiguous flanges being spaced from each other and interrupted by theplane face of the disc whereby a liquid projected from the nozzle andstriking the disc will be divided into portions having relatively longflat trajectories and intermediate portions, the trajectories of whichprogressively shorten horizontally toward the median lines of thearcuate flanges, said arcuate flanges being outwardly beveled on theirinner arcuate faces.

3. A nozzle for uniformly spraying non-circular areas which comprises avertically disposed tllblllar nozzle having an outlet at its lower end,a circular disc disposed beneath said nozzle with its plane surface atright angles to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle and against which acolumn of liquid from the nozzle may project, and a plurality of arcuateflanges disposed in spaced relation to each other along thecircumferential edge of said disc, and projecting at right angles to theaforementioned plane face of the disc, said arcuate flanges progressingin height from their opposite ends to their median line, the ends ofcontiguous flanges being spaced from each other and interrupted by theplane face of the disc whereby a liquid projected from the nozzle andstriking the disc will be divided into portions having relatively longflat trajectories and intermediate portions, the trajectories of whichprogressively shorten horizontally toward the median lines of thearcuate flanges, said arcuate flanges being serrated along theirmarginal edges.

4. A nozzle for uniformly spraying non-circular areas which comprises avertically disposed 'tubular nozzle having an outlet at its lower end,

a circular disc disposed beneath said nozzle with its plane surface atright angles to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle and against which acolumn of liquid from the nozzle may project, and a plurality of arcuateflanges disposed in spaced relation to each other along thecircumfer'ential edge of said disc, and projecting at right angles tothe aforementioned plane faceof the disc, said arcuate flangesprogressing in height from their opposite ends to their median line, theends of contiguous flanges being spaced from each other and interruptedby the plane face of the disc whereby a liquid projected from the nozzleand striking the disc will be divided into portionshaving relativelylong flat trajectories and intermediate portions, the trajectories ofwhich progressively shorten horizontally toward the median lines of thearcuate flanges, said arcuate flanges being serrated along theirmarginal edges, the serrations extending the depth of the flangethroughout the lengths thereof.

5. A nozzle for uniformly spraying non-circular areas which comprises avertically disposed tubular nozzl'e having an outlet at its lower end, acircular disc disposed beneath said nozzle with its plane surface atright angles to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle and against which acolumn of liquid from the nozzle may project, and a plurality of arcuateflanges disposed in spaced relation to each other along thecircumferential edge of said disc, and projecting at right angles to theaforementioned plane face of the disc, said arcuate flanges progressingin height from their opposite ends to their median line, the ends ofcontiguous flanges being spaced from each other and interrupted by theplane face of the disc whereby a liquid projected from the nozzle andstriking the disc will be divided into portions having relatively longflat trajectories and intermediate portions, the trajectories of whichprogressively shorten horizontally toward the median lines of thearcuate flanges, said arcuate flanges being outwardly beveled on theirinner arcuate faces, said arcuate flanges being serrated along theirmarginal edges.

6. A nozzle for uniformly spraying non-circular areas which comprises avertically disposed tubular nozzle having an outlet at its lower end, acircular disc disposed beneath said nozzle with its plane surface atright angles to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle and against which acolumn of liquid from the nozzle may project, and a plurality of arcuateflanges disposed in spaced relation to each other along thecircumferential edge of said disc, and projecting at right angles to theaforementioned plane face of the disc, said arcuate flanges progressingin height from their .opposite ends to their median line, the ends ofcontiguous flanges being spaced from each other and interrupted by theplane face of the disc whereby a liquid projected from the nozzle andstriking the disc will be divided into portions having relatively longflat trajectories and intermediate portions, the trajectories of whichprogressively shorten horizontally toward the median lines of thearcuate flanges, the disc being formed with openings around its centerand through which a proportion of the liquid of the column may pass, anobstructing deflector disposed beneath said disc and its openings todivert the liquid from its longitudinal path.

'7. A nozzle for uniformly spraying non-circular areas which comprises avertically disposed tubular nozzle having an outlet at its lower end, acircular disc disposed beneath said nozzle with its plane surface atright angles to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle and against which acolumn of liquid from the nozzle may project, and a plurality of arcuateflanges disposed in spaced relation to each other along thecircumferential edge of said disc, and projecting at right angles to theaforementioned plane face of the disc, said arcuate flanges progressingin height from their opposite ends to their median line, the ends ofstriking the disc will be divided into portions having relatively longflat trajectories and intermediate portions, the trajectories of whichprogressively shorten horizontally toward the median lines of thearcuate flanges, the disc being formed with openings around its centerand through which a proportion of the liquid of the column may pass, anobstructing deflector dis posed beneath said disc and its openings todivert the liquid from its longitudinal path, and an annular serratedflange projecting downwardly from the under face of the disc and adaptedto being encountered bythe liquid deflected from the deflector todisperse the liquid.

8. A nozzle for uniformly spraying a non-circular area which comprises avertically disposed tubular nozzle of substantially uniform crosssection opened at its lower end, a circular plate disposed beneath theopened lower end of the nozzle and lying in a plane at right angles tothat of the nozzle, a plurality of arcuate flanges formed along theperimeter of said plate and projecting upwardly therefrom, said flangesbeing characterized by having an upper edge progressively increas'ng inheight from the face of the plate to a median point, said edge beingformed with a series of serrations gradually progressing in depth fromthe opposite ends of said flanges to the median point, the innervertical surface of each of the flanges flaring outwardly at an anglegreater than a right angle to the plane of the disc, and the oppositeends of said flanges being interrupted by the surface of the upper faceof the disc, whereby a stream of liquid projected from the nozzleagainst the face of said disc will be dispersed in all directionstherefrom, and along predetermined trajectories to spray a required areaof non-circular form.

9. A nozzle for uniformly spraying a non-circular area which comprises avertically disposed tubular nozzle of substantially uniform crosssection opened at its lower end, a circular plate disposed beneath theopened lower end of the nozzle and lying in a plane at right angles tothat of the nozzle, a plurality of arcuate flanges formed along theperimeter of said plate and projecting upwardly therefrom, said flangesbeing characterized by having an upper edge progressively increasing inheight from the face of the plate to a median point, said edge beingformed with a series of serrations gradually progressing in depth fromthe opposite ends of said flanges to the median point, the innervertical surface of each of the flanges flaring outwardly at an anglegreater than a right angle to the plane of the disc, and the oppositeends of said flanges being interrupted by the surface of the upper faceof the disc, whereby a stream of liquid projected from the nozzleagainst the face of said disc will be dispersed in all directionstherefrom, and along predetermined trajectories to spray a required areaof non-circular form, openings through the disc, an obstructed deflectordisposed beneath the disc and in the path of liquid passing through saidopenings whereby liquid will be deflected outwardly and upwardly and anannular downwardly extending fluted flange on the under face of the discto be encountered by the deflected water and to insure that the centralarea of the surface to be sprayed will be uniformly wetted'.

10. A nozzle for uniformly spraying a noncircular area which comprises avertically disposed tube nozzle, having a liquid passageway therethroughof uniform sectional area, a spider formed across the passageway of saidnozzle, a

support rod carried by the spider and extending longitudinally andcentrally through the mouth of the nozzle, a spray disc adjustablymounted upon the rod and support in a plane at right angles to the mouthof the nozzle, an obstructing deflector mounted upon the end of the rodbeneath the spray disc, the perimeter of the upper face of the spraydisc being divided into a plurality of segments, each bounded by aperpendicular flange progressing in height from the face of the spraydisc to a median point and each flange being formed with uniformlyspaced serrations which uniformly increase in depth from the ends of theflanges to their median points, the disc being spaced from the end ofthe passageway and being formed with openings through it which permit aportion of the liquid from the nozzle to pass through the disc and bedispersed by the obstructing deflector.

11. A nozzle for uniformly spraying a non-circular area which comprisesa vertically disposed tube nozzle, having a liquid passagewaytherethrough of uniform sectional area, a spider formed across thepassageway of said nozzle, a

support rod carried by the spider and extending longitudinally andcentrally through the mouth of the nozzle, a spray disc adjustablymounted upon the rod and support in a plane at right angles to the mouthof the nozzle, an obstructing deflector mounted upon the end of the rodbeneath the spray disc, the perimeter of the upper face of the spraydisc being divided into a plurality of segments each bounded by aperpendicular flange progressing in height from the face of the spraydisc to a median point and each flange being formed with uniformlyspaced serrations which uniformly increase in depth from the ends of theflanges to their median points, the disc being spaced from the end ofthe passageway and being formed with openings through it which permit aportion of the liquid from the nozzle to pass through the disc and bedispersed by the obstructing deflector, and a downwardly extendingcircumferential flange formed on the under face of the spray disc,-said'flange being fluted to disperse liquid which is deflected by theobstructing deflector.

ROBLEY D. EVANS.

